Initiating and actuating mechanism for automatic record changers



June 15, 1954 B. N. FISHER 2,681,227 INITIATING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed Aug. 27, 1949 3 SheefLs-Sheet. l

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294M 'M FMM June 15, 1954 B. N, FISHER 2,681,227 INITIATING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed, Aug. 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. JA K V6 (1 5 5/ 2 7? A77aQt/52 5. 7

June 15, 1954 2,681,227

B. N. FISHER INITIATING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed Aug. 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Shet s Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INITIATING AND ACTUATIN G MECHANIS FOR AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGERS Berne N. Fisher, Roselle, N. J., assignor to General Instrument a corporation of Corporation, Elizabeth, N. J., New Jersey Application August 27, 1949, Serial No. 112,672 12 Claims. (01. 274-1) The present invention relates to mechanism useable to initiate and control a record changing sequence in an automatic record player.

In automatic record changers, initiating or tripping mechanisms controlled by the movement Most generally utilized today is the so-called velocity trip type, that is to say,

the turntable rotates the tone arm moves thereover at a relatively low rate. At the end. of the intermittently cammed back rotating with the turntable, the lug engaging the controlling member a fixed number of times, genanisin for the record changing sequence will be tripped.

Obviously this reducing the life and depend- Moreover, the

of some noise, which cannot be completely eliminated either is also of arm moves iapidl across the turntable During reproduction of the record at which time noise can rotate It will be apparent that, in addition to eliminating noise and vibration, the

hundred grooves.

Another problem record changing sequence a part of the record changer frame. The movwhen in its catch-held position,

to rotate, a second portion of the surface comesopposite the finger, permitting the finger to drop, the moving member the and thus permitting clutch member to move to positions in which the clutch member is unclutched from the source of power, thus removing the driving force from the cam and permitting it to come to rest. This will, of course, occur at the end of the recordchanging sequence.

The moving member is adapted to be moved" to its catch-held position by a starting member carried by the cam, the position of that starting member being determined by a holding member adapted to be actuated by the controlling member which is operatively connected to the tone arm. It is only when the controlling member outwardly by the rotating lug (which will take place only after the tone arm has moved inwardly across the turntable at its high rate) that the holding member will be suitably actuated so as to permit the starting mem moving member and move it to its catch-held position and the clutchmember to its clutched position.

Thus, all of the elements of the record changing initiating and actuating mechanism here disclosed cooperate to produce a single useful result, to wit, the initiation of a record changing sequence only when the tone arm moves inwardly across the turntable at a high rate and the stopping of that sequence at an appropriate poirt. As an additional may be noted that, in the apparatus as here disclosed, the source of power for the record changing cam, to which the cam is connected and from which it is disconnected by appropriate positioning of the clutch member, is the selfsame rotating lug which acts upon the controlling member after the tone arm has moved, inwardly at its high rate.

Another feature of the present invention is the utilization of a direct linkage betweena manually operable initiating control member, which may be manipulated at will to cause a record changingsequence to startindependently of the action of the, tone arm and the starting member, that linkage being entirely independent of any part of the initiating or actuating mechanism previously discussed. As a result, manual initiation is rendered quite of a record changing sequence positive in function, and even if portions of the initiating or actuating mechanism should become damaged or should fail to operate properly, manual initiation of the record changing sequence can nevertheless be accomplished. This is an exceedingly significant feature since the initiating and actuating mechanism is normally of a relatively delicate nature involving the employment of springs and the like which have a tendency to become inoperative. By reason of the just described direct connection between the manually operable initiating control member and the moving member, control over the record changing sequence is possible without having to is cammeder to engage the feature of interrelationship, it,

.tuating mechanism as rely upon the more fragile and less dependable portions of the apparatus.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of a record changer initiating and acdefined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the record changer oi the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to the lower left hand corner of l but with a portion of the base plate broken away so as to disclose the mechanism therebeneath;

Fig. 3 is a three-quarter perspective view of the moving member with catch attached;

Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional View on an enlarged scale taken along the line i l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detailed side cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detailed top cross-sectional, view taken along the line 5 of big. 4;

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the position assumed by the various parts of the apparatus just after the tone arm has moved inwardly at its high rate of speed;

Fig. 8 is a view on a reduced scale similar to Fig. i but showing the position of the parts after the moving member has been lifted to its catchheld position;

Fig. 9 is a detailed view showing the moving member, clutch member, and. rotating lug, the

- moving member being in its catch-held position;

and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the movingmember in a non-catch-held position.

Viewed broadly, the record changer of the present invention comprises a frame generally designated A having a tone arm 3' mounted thereon for engagement with a record and for movement over that. record for reproduction thereof. A controlling member generally designated C ismounted on the frame and an operative connection D is provided between the tone arm B and the controlling member C, that operative connection being speed-sensitive and preferably of a type-which is capable of'transmitting high rates of motion from the tone arm B to the controlling member C but incapable of transmitting low rates of motion. Consequently, the controlling member C will be moved only when the tone arm;B moves across the record at a relatively. high rate. A power source E. is provided which is-adapted to drive the rotatable cam F at appropriate times, the cam F having operatively connected which is. movable. between a clutched and unclutched position with respect to the power source E. A moving member. generally designated H and shown in perspective in Fig. 3 is operatiyely connected tothe clutch member G so that when the moving member H is positioned the clutch member G will also be positioned. A

catch J is mounted on the moving. member H and is adapted, when the member H is in one of its positions, to engage with a support K so as to retain the moving member H and the clutch member G in a given position. Mechanism is provided for releasing the catch J from the supportK at an appropriate time during the record changing sequence so that the moving member H and the clutch member G can move to difthereto a clutch member G- terent positions to disengage the cam F from the power source E.

other and less dependable parts of themechanism.

Viewed more in detail, the frame comprises a base plate 2-upon which a turntable 4 is rotatnted, the turntable being adapted to receive a record 6 thereon and the tone arm B being movable thereover for reproduction purinvention, energization of the motor of the rim a stack of records held above the turntable. A peripheral support plate 2 for supporting the stack of records held above the turntable at their peripheries. Rotation of the button l2 by means of the shaft I1 passing through the hollow spindle I0 is eiTective to cause the records in the stack to drop one by one to the turntable 4 as is well known in the art.

The turntable itself is secured to a bushing l6 rotatable around the spindle I 0, passing through the base plate 2 l8 secured to the lower portion thereof by means pending lug 22 be surrounded by a bumper sheath similar shock-absorbing material in order to reduce noise and vibration.

The tone arm B is of conventional form and is supported on shaft 24 which passes freely through the base plate 2 and is fixedly secured at its lower end to arm 26 one end 28 of which is provided with a cam follower 39 and the other end 32 of which may, if desired, be provided with a counterbalancing weight 34 secured thereto as by means of the screw and bolt 36.

The shaft 24 has secured thereto the bracket 38, this bracket including a horizontal tongue 46 secured directly to the shaft 24 but within which the shaft 24 is rotatable, a vertical portion 42,

an upper horizontal portion 44, and a pair of downwardly depending side wings 46 which are pivotally secured by means of the horizontal pin I6 is mounted on the base 30 and having a collar 40 is apparent that the by mean 01 the stop nut 84 receivable over the threaded tip 60, a washer 66 being interposed between the stop nut 64 and the bushing 62. A connecting member 68 is rotatably mounted on the upper portion of the bushing 62, the memupper portion 10 to move correspondingly.

The controlling member 0 may take the form of an elongated arm 14 of appropriate shape one end of which extends under the base plate 2 stable organo-silicon oxide polymer made by combining silicon dioxide with methyl or ethyl groups of molecules derived from alcohols or with ethyltransmitted to the controlling member C. the bumper 15 carried at the end of .the arm 14 will remain out of the path of the rotating lug 22. However, as soon the case.

i dimensional cam it which is positioned under'the end 28 of the'arm 2t, th'ecam follower 3!! carried by the arm 26 cooperatingwith the three-dimens'ional'cam surface of the cam F so as to control the position of the vine arm B during the record changing sequence in wellk'nown manner. The cam F is alsoprovided with a fragmentary gear section as which, at an appropriate time during the rotation of the cam, engages with gear 86 to which is secured the shaft I? which passes throiigh' the hollow spindle If! so as to rotate the record-- shifting button it through a complete cycle; In this way the cam F controls, in timed relationship; the movement of the tone arm and the dropping of the record to the turntable.

The periphery of the cam F is provided with agear ti; with which gear teeth 98 on the clutch member G are always engaged. The clutch member is in the form of a bushing rotatably mounted on a central stationary shaft 92 and alsoslidable thercalong'. One of the gear teeth,

here designated as the tooth 94, is elongated upwardly an appreciable distance beyond the other teeth and is positioned so as to be just below the path of the rotating lug 22. A series or spring fingers 96 are positioned above the clutch member G and engageable therewith, the fingers eealsc engaging a ball bearing assembly 98' positioned just below the bushing it connected to the turntable d. Hence, the clutch member G is normally urged downwardly by the spring fingaffe-Shinto a position in which a clearance IIlII exists between the constantly rotating lug 22 and the elongated gear tooth 94. In this position the clutch member G is declutched from the constan'tlirotating lug 22, which constitutes the power source E, and the cam therefore is not rota'tedl In order to move the clutch member G upw'ardly'against' the action of the spring fingers 6; so that the elongated gear tooth 94 can'be engaged with and driven by the lug 22, the moving member H is utilized. As here specifically disclosed; that member has the shape best shown in Fig. 3 and includes a plate-like portion I02 having a central aperture iii-t through which the central siipport 22 is adapted-to pass and having upstruck lugs I96 on which the bottom of the clutch member G is adapted to rest. The use of two lugs Hi6 en'sdreseven aligned motion of the clutch member G upwardiy' and downwardly along the central support 92, as the moving member H is moved, and the employment of but two points of contact rather than line or surface contact between the clutch member G and the moving a, member H permits rotation of the clutch member G when it is operatively connected to the power source E more readily than would otherwise be The moving member H is itself pivotally connected, by means of ears Hi8 and pin HG} to a portion of the frame A. The moving member H is movable between an upper or first position best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which position the clutch member G is lifted into clutched position in operative connection with the'power source E, and a second or lower position best shown in Figs. 4 and 10 in which the moving member H rests on the bottom support H2 which forms a part of the frame A and in which the clutch member G, as itrests on the lugs I08 of the moving member H, is in its declutched position.

The underside of the cam F carries a starting member in theform of an arm H4 mounted on ears Hi1 depending from the cam F so as to pivot about the pin'I I6" and urged by'cdmpressish spring HB, active between one endofthe arm H4 and the underside of the cam F, to' rotate in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in Fig; 4. The outer end I of the arm I I4, which may be provided with a shock-absorbing pad I22 if desired, is positioned directly underneath the shelf-like portion Hi2 of the moving member 1-! when that member is in its second or lower position. The inner end 12s of the arm H4 is normally held toward the cam against the action of the spring H3 by means of the hooked end 42% of a holding member in the form of an arm I28 pivotally mounted about pin I30, extending substantially vertically throughthe hub I32 of the cam; projecting thereabove and terminating in tip I34. Leaf spring I36 is active between the hub I32 and the holdingmember I28 so as to constantly urge that member to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. see as always to cause the hooked end I28 thereof to engage with the end I24 of the cam H4.

The controlling member C has pivotally mount ed thereon an element I38 having a frontsurface iii! and a side surface I42. A spring I44" constantly tends to cause the element I38 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above so as to bring'the' side surface M2 against the projecting tip I34 of the holding member I28 ment of the rotating lug 22. 7 When the controlling member C is moved inwardly into the path of the rotating lug 22 (see Fig. 7), the side surface m2 of the element I38 is moved beyond the as IE0.- of the holding member I28, the front surface I40 of the element I38 snapping into position against the tip I under the action of spring I. Thereafter, as the rotating lug 22 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow I46 it will engage the bumper I6 on the end of the controlling member C and cam the bumper I6 outwardly so that the controlling member D will pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '7 the front surface I of the element I33thus pivoting the holding member I28 about the axis I36 in opposition to the action of the leaf spring I36 so as to remove the hooked end I26 of the holding member I28 from the end I24 of the starting member H4. When this is done, the starting member He pivots in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 8 so that the bumper I22 on the end I'Zii thereof will engage the underside of the moving member H and will lift that moving member to its position shown in Fig. 8, thus lifting the clutch member G into driven connection with the rotating lug 22.

The catch J is mounted on the moving member H so as to pivot about the pin I 58. The catch J V comprises'a vertically depending arm I56 with anotch I52 therein, that arm having an outwardly projecting finger IE5 at 'the'end thereof. An arm I56 extends from the top of the depending arm I50 and at right angles thereto. As a result, the catch constantly tends to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3, 9 and 10. When the moving member H is in its lower position, the side of the arm I550 presses against the side of the support K- a'gainst which it is pivotally urged by its own weight and that of the arm I56. When the moving member H is lifted by the starting member H4, the catch J is also lifted until the notch I52 on the arm" I50 is raised above the top level I 58 of the support K. As the cam F position (see Fig. 9).

The cam is provided with a contact element in the form of an arm I60 pivotally mounted thereon and urged by spring I62 into an outwardly projected position determined by the positive stop I64. As the cam F rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow I66, this arm I89 will eventually be brought into engagement with the outwardly projecting finger I54 of the catch J so as to pivot said catch in a and thus cause the notch I52 to become disengaged from the top surface I58 of the support engagement with the first or raised portion I14 of the surface I12, over which surface the finger I68 is adapted to slide as the cam F rotates, the

moving member H is retained in an upper position power source E. When the cam F has rotated sufficiently so that the finger I68 comes opposite the second or depressed portion I16 of the surface I12, the finger I68, and with it the moving member H, is permitted to fall, thus permitting the clutch member G to move downwardly, under the influence of its own weight and as urged by the spring fingers 96, to its declutched position with respect to the power source E.

In order to provide for manual control of the record changing mechanism, a switch plate I18 is pivotally mounted on the base plate 2 so as to pivot about pin I80, the switch plate I18 having a finger guard I82 adapted to be engaged by the finger of the user so as to pivot the switch plate I18 in the direction of the arrow I84 (see Fig. 1). The switch plate I18 thus constitutes the manually operable initiating control member L. A direct linkage is provided between the manually operable control member L and the moving member H, that linkage being here illustrated in extremely simple form as constituted by a simple lever I86 pivotally mounted beneath the base plate at I88 and connected at one end by a pin and slot connection I90 to the switch plate I18. A spring I92 tends to keep the lever I86 rotated in a counterclockwise direction and the switch plate I18 rotated in a clockwise direction so that the free end I94 of the lever I86 is separated from a rearwardly and downwardly inclined finger I96 on the moving member Hi. When the manually operable control member L, that is to say, the switch plate I18, is manually pivoted in the direction of the arrow I84, the leve I 86 which constitutes the direct pushes it inwardly, thus positively H to pivot to its upper and catch-held position. This positively lifts the clutch member G to its clutched position in driven connection to the power source E cam 13 is rotated, giving rise member L through the moving member H to the ciutch member G.

During the rotation of the cam F, the inner end I212 of the starting member II4 will be lifted by the stationary cam surface I98 until it once again engages with the hooked leaf spring I36 because rotation of the cam F will remove the projecting tip I3 3 thereof from the front surface I40 oi the element I38 carried by the controlling member 0. As the cam F rotates again to its pivot in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring Hi l.

The manner of operation of the record changer of the present invention is as follows.

jecting tip I34 of the holding spring M4 causing counterclockwise direction so that its front surface I40 is brought opposite the tip I 34 of the holding member I 28. Very shortly thereafter, the constantly rotating moving member H that the notch I 52 in the catch arm I58 will engage with the upper surface I 58 of the support K, retaining the movthe first or raised portion ing member H in that u'pper position. When the moving member H is lifted the clutch member G is also lifted, against the action of the spring fingers cs, until the elongated gear tooth at is brought into the path of the constantly rotating lug 22, that lug thereafter rotating the clutch member G and the cam F so as to cause a record changing sequence to take place.

As the cam rotates, the finger I60 will trip the catch J, thus permitting the finger 53 on the moving member H to drop into engagement with HG of the cam surface I12 on the cam F In this position the clutch member G is still in its clutched position and consequently the cam F will continueto rotate until the'finger I63 comes into registration with the second or depressed portion 116 of the cam surface H2 at which time the moving member H ispermitted to fall, the clutch member G falling and moving to its cainiF i l. longe e driv will come to rest, and the record changing sequence will have been bi rl d- It will be apparentithat the mechanism and mode of, operation above described have numerous advantages over comparable prior art mechanisms and modes of operation in that the controlling member C is moved to a position in which it is cammed outwardly only when the tone arm B moves inwardly rapidly. This makes for less noise, less vibration, and less wear. The clutch member G is moved in a positive and efiicient manner from its declutched to its clutched position, is positively retained in the clutched position until the record changing sequence is completed, and its motion is controlled by mechanism which is exceedingly compact and dependable. In addition, as has already been disclosed, manual initiation of the record changing sequence can be accomplished in a simple way and through the employment of a direct and positive linkage which short circuits all of the relatively less reliable or spring urged parts of. the initiating and actuating mechanism previously disclosed, manual manipulation of the control member L positively moving the'clutch member G to its clutched position.

' It will be apparent that many variations may be made in the invention as herein disclosed without departing from tion' as defined in the following'claims.

I claim: 1. An initiating mechanism for a record changer comprising a frame, a tone'arm mounted thereon for movementthereoverat"low and'hig'h rates, a' controlling member'mov'able betweeii'a first inoperative position and a second operative position for'initiating a'record 'changing's'e quence, and a clutch operatively connected btween said'tone arm and said controlling member; saidclutch comprisin'g'a' pair of clutch parts spaced from one'another and relatively movable substantially parallel to'one another, and a mass of silicone between and in' with said clutch"parts,said silicone'ma's's thereby being subjected to surface frictional forces variablein accordance with the speed of relative movement of said clutch parts, said clutch'th'ere by being efiective to cause said controlling member to move from its first to its'second position only when said tone arm is moved at its high rate.

2.'An initiating mechanism for a record changer comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted declutchCd position. The

the spiritpf the'invenfrictional engagement thereon for movement thereover at low and high rates, a controllingmember movable between a first inoperative position anda second operative position for initiating a record changing sequence, and an operative mechanical connection between said tone arm and said controlling mem ber said connection including a clutch compris ing a pair of spaced elements, one connected to said tone arm and the other to said controlling member and relatively movable in substantially parallel planes, said elements in turn being eon: heated by a substance confined therebetween as a layer, frictionally engaging each of said cle ments and capable of transmitting high rates of motion from one element to the other but incapable of thus transmitting low rates of motion by means of variations in the surface frictional effect thereon, therflby causing said controlling member to move from its first to its second posi tion only when said tone arm is moved at its high rate.

3. An initiating mechanism for a record changer comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon for movement thereover at low and high rates, a controlling member movable between a first inoperative position and asec- 0nd operative position for initiating, a record changing sequence, said controlling member being pivotally mounted on a shaft, a connect- ,ing member also pivotally mounted on said. shaft and engageable by said tone'arm as it. moves over said frame so as to be moved thereby, and a speed-sensitive clutch operatively connected between said controlling member and said connecting member, said clutch comprising a pair of clutch parts spaced from one another and relatively movable another, and a mass of silicone between and in frictional engagement with'said clutch parts, said silicone mass thereby being subjected to surface frictional forces upon relative movement'of said clutch parts and being sensitive to variations in the surface frictional effects thereon so' as to cause said controlling member to move from its first to its second positiononly whensaid connecting member is moved by said tone arm at a relatively high rate of speed.

4. An initiating mechanism for a record changer comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon for movement thereover at low and high rates, a controlling member movable between a first inoperative position and a second operative position for initiating a record changing sequence, saidcontrolling member being pivotally mounted on a shaft, a connecting member also pivotally mounted on said shaft and engageable by said tone arm as'it moves over said frame'so as to "be moved thereby, said members being spaced from one another and movable in substantially parallel planes, and a layer of silicone oil between said controlling member and said connecting member 7 and in frictional engagement with each, saidsili cone being sensitive to variations inthe surface frictional efiects thereon so as to be effective to cause said controlling member to move from its first to its second position only when said 00D: necting member is moved bysaid tone arm at a relatively high rate of speed.

5. An initiating mechanism for, a record changer comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon for movement thereover atlow and high rates, a controlling member movable between, a first inoperative and a second operative position for'initiating a record changing sequence, said,

substantially parallel to one' controlling member being pivotally mounted on a shaft, a connecting member also pivotally moved thereby, and an operative mechanical connection between said controlling member and said controlling first to its second posiarm is moved at a relamember to move from its tion only when said tone tively high rate of speed.

6. The initiating mechanism of claim in which said substance confined between said relalug so as to initiate a record changing sequence,

mechanical conposition only when said tone arm is moved at its high rate.

10. An initiating mechanism for a record changer comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon for movement thereover at low and high rates, a constantly rotating lug on said frame, a controlling member movable between a first poand a second position in the path of movement of said lug,

moves over said frame so as to be moved thereby, and a speed-sensitive clutch operatively between said controlling member and said connecting member and comprising a pair of relatively movable elements, one connected to said 0nd position only is moved by said tone arm at a relatively high rate of speed.

a controlling position out of the path of movement of said lug and a second position in the path 01 movement of said lug, said controlling member when (References on following page) 1; liaieren csl Gited'; the fi e f this; patent,

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